BERE REGIS 164-8 (2pts) beat SWANAGE 102-8 (0pts) by 62 runs & BERE REGIS 44-0 (2pts) beat SWANAGE 43 (0pts) by 10 wickets

BERE Regis reached Dorset T20 Finals Day with two emphatic wins over Swanage at Bere Regis Rec.

Brian Keegan’s men now go through to the last four on Sunday, July 7 at Hamworthy Recreation.

There, they will battle for the trophy and title of Dorset champions, the winners going on to represent the county in the ECB National Club Twenty20 competition.

Bere will be up against fellow group winners Broadstone and Wimborne plus Poole Town, the best runners-up.

READ MORE: Honours even for Bere after Dorchester T20s - report

Coming into this weekend, Bere and Swanage were both level on six points in the South West division.

However, Swanage were immediately up against it without the services of star batter Mike Salmon, who crunched a magnificent 139 against Dorchester earlier this season.

In the first T20, Swanage fancied chasing after winning the toss and fielding first.

However, their decision looked to be false when Tom Munnings unleashed a trademark brutal innings of 48 from only 22 balls.

His knock contained four maximums and three boundaries, sharing 77 for the first wicket with Cam Robertson (19).

Swanage hit back though, Sid Nash (2-28) bowling Munnings and Ryan Stearn (1-41) taking out Robertson in the next over.

Bere added vital runs in the middle overs through Theo Talbot (35) and Tim Goodhew (21) but Swanage did a good job of restricting their hosts to a manageable total.

Max Nicholson (2-28) and skipper Ben Hodder (2-18) both bowled well as Bere posted 164-8 from their 20 overs.

In reply, Pete Macklin (4-19) had Swanage’s top order in tatters, bowling the top three batters and making for an uncomfortable end to the innings.

Swanage were at one stage 40-7 and grateful to Hodder for taking the score towards triple figures with his 34 from 24 balls, including three fours and two maximums.

Swanage’s slim hopes of victory were extinguished when Munnings (1-17) had Hodder caught and, despite a resilient 32 from Sam Marks, the Swans came up 62 runs short at 102-8.

There would be an even lower score around the corner for Swanage in the second T20, though.

Bere’s bowlers were irresistible after being put into the field, Keegan losing the toss for a second time.

Jacob Kennard (4-4) and Pete Macklin (3-10) were the chief destroyers as Swanage slumped to a scarcely believable 14-9.

Having shaken up their batting order, the last-wicket pairing of Nash (11) and Craig Wells (16no) put on 27.

That was until Dean Rogerson (1-0) removed Nash with his only ball, wrapping up the innings for just 43.

Bere made light work of the paltry target as Pete Russell (24no) and Rogerson (17no) completed the chase in 35 balls.

Speaking to Echosport, Keegan expressed his satisfaction at reaching Finals Day.

He said: “It’s a double-edged sword.

“It might not be our most favourite competition in the world and obviously doesn’t count towards the overall league placings, but if you continue to win hopefully it follows on all the way through the season.

“We were consistent with bat and ball and I couldn’t ask for much else.

“Tactics-wise, it worked for us and didn’t work for them. That’s the way it is on the day, sometimes it goes the other way.

“You take the plaudits, the smooth rather than the rough, when it comes your way.

“I think it’s Poole, Broadstone and Wimborne that have got through with us, so it will be competitive and we’ll go from there.”

Bere now switch their attentions back to red-ball cricket for the first time this season in the newly-implemented 100-over format in which the side batting first can declare.

Bere will have five weeks of 100-over cricket before the 50-over games return from week 14 onwards.

Elsewhere, Bere Regis Seconds were thrashed by 151 runs at County Division Two leaders Shaftesbury.

Bere main sponsor: Booth Gadenne.

Bere first XI match ball sponsor: GMS Plumbing and Heating.

Bere second XI match ball sponsor: Dorset Reclamation.